Railway-lantern



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f W. 0. "STEPHENSON RAILWAY LAN-TEEN. No. 256,402. Patented Apr. 11, 1.882.`

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RAILWAY LANTERN. No. 256,402. Patented Ap1.11,|1882.

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y v RAILWAY LANTBRN. l No. 256,462. m Patented Apr. 11, 1882.l

UNITED 'V STATES y ATENT 'y iranien.

WILLIAM O. STEFHENSON, OFA CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO M. M. BUCK,

OF SII. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SPECIFICATINformng part of Letters Patent No. 256,402, dated April 11, 1882.. A

Application filed February '7, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom @t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM O. STEPHEN- sON, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio,

'have inventedA a new and useful Improvement 5 in Railway-Lanterns, of which the following is a specification.

My inventionrelates to a provision within or beneath the base of a railway la/mp or lan-` zo insure the possession by the trackmen or brakemen of a supply ot' torpedoes instantly accessible at the critical moment that the present improvement has been devised.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a railway lamp or lantern provided with one form of my improvement, a portion of the base or foot being shown broken away so as to lay bare the torpedo-receptacle. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through 3o the receptacle and a portion of the base. Fig. 3 isa horizontal section through the receptacle. Fig. 4 is a perspective under side view ot the receptacle with the contiguous parts of the lantern-bottom, the cap being represented detached. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a side elevation and a perspective view of a modification ot' my improvement. Figs. 7 andS are respectively a side elevation and a vertical section of another moditication.

A may represent a railway lamp or lantern having customary inverted saucer-formed base or foot, B, extending downward and outward from the Hoor orbottom C. Projecting downward from the under side of said iloor is a cylindrical chamber, D, which constitutes theV body of the receptacle. The depth and interior diameter of said receptacle are such as to easily contain the desired number (say two) ot torpedoes E. l

The torpedoes are retained within said re- 5o ceptacle by means of a cap, F, in whose bayonet-notchesfengage studsd, that. project from the receptacle-body. A spring-catch, G, by snapping over. one of the studs d, prevents the possibility of accidental separation of the cap. y

A helical spring, H, fastened at one end to the iioor C and depending therefrom 'within the receptacle-body, presses upon the topmost torpedo and prevents the torpedoes rattling or 6o slipping about within the receptacle.

When the torpedoes are wanted the operator has only to open the spring-catch G and withdraw the cap, which latter then brings the torpedoes away with it in convenient position for conveying to the desired spot upon the track. I

In Figs. 5 and 6 is seen a modification of my improvement, in which the receptacle P is hinged, as at p, to a corresponding shallow 7o Y curb, Q, and is fastened shut by means of a spring-catch, It, that engages over a stud, r,v upon the said hinged receptacle. A spring, H, of identical form with that in the form first described, operates in like manner. 7

Figs. 7 and 8 represent still another modiication, that consists of a metallic diaphragm, I, which, in conjunction with the flaring base and with the floor, constitutes the receptacle. Access to this form of receptacle is afforded 8o by apertures J, which are closable by sliding shutters K, that are capableof being fastened by means of catches L. In this form the rattling of the contents is preventedl by thumbscrew and nut M N, the screw M of which, being secured to the lantern-floor, extends through an orifice, 1, in the diaphragm. By turning the nut N to right the diaphragm Iis elevated, and, pressing upon the contents, retains them' in place. A contrary turn of said 9o nut leaves the torpedoes lyin g loosely within the receptacle, so as to' be capable of being readily emptied out on withdrawal ot' the shutter.

An incidental advantage of my attachment is the increased weight imparted to the lantern-base with consequent greater stability.

l I claim as new and of my inventionl. A railway lamp or lantern whose foot or In testimony of which invention I hereunto hase contains a holder orreceptae1e,D, a cap, set my hand.

F, and a spring catch 0I' fastening, Gr, substantially as set forth. WILLIAM O. STEPHENSON.

2. The torpedo-holding attachment for rail- Way-lanterns, consisting of receptacle D, cap Attest:

F, fastening G, and anti-rattling spring H, GEO. H. KNIGHT,

substantially as set forth. SAML. S. CARPENTER. 

